A big thank you to Michelle for nominating me for the Liebster Award. Liebster is a German word meaning favourite. It is so much fun to write about my practice, ask questions and share tips. I learn so much from my fellow bloggers and am continuously inspired to strengthen my understanding about my Kinders and add new ideas to programs. Part of my responsibility is to nominate five of my favourite blogs with under 200 followers. This is always the most difficult part because I have so many favourite blogs but most of them have more than 200 followers. Here are my top three.       ...

Hello, I am linking up today with Sandi of Rubber Boots and Elf Shoes, one of my fav bloggers. I discovered through Sandi that this idea is actually a linky party started by Lindsey over at The Teacher Wife. Link up with her to share your top five children's books.      Don't all Kindergarten teachers love pictures books! I have so many old favourites and lots of new ones too! So I decided to pick a few favourites that my Kinders LOVED this past year. Over In The Meadow Illustrator: Jill McDonald  Sung by Susan Reed This traditional rhyming song has been done by Raffi, Michael Evans and many more. There are many versions of this song including ones that have changed the lyrics to represent different environments such as Over In The Arctic. This past year we literaly sang it every day and that's not counting the times it was chosen for peer reading, independent reading or family reading. This book is a must have for Kindergarten classrooms! ...

Doing Math Practice Every Day Last summer I decided to strengthen my Kindergarten math program by moving from math tubs to math work stations. To prepare I read Debbie Diller's book Math Work Stations . In her book she provides a simple framework for delivering daily math practice of concepts previously taught in a primary classroom. She provides examples of different ways to organize your students, your resources as well as several activities for the math stations. At the same time, I joined an online book discussion with other Kindergarten teachers where we discussed each chapter of the book, analyzed the information and then wrote about what math stations would like in our own rooms.  As I read the book, I went through my classroom resources (yes we work during July and August) and reorganized them into math tubs, created emergent graphic organizers and planned how to integrate daily practice into the kindergarten day. It has been such a success! My internet colleagu...

I was asked yesterday what does a  balanced literacy program include. So I am putting the question out there for you. What do you include in your literacy program? I love my literacy program but also know that there are still lots of great strategies that I can learn and integrate into my program. So even though I am happy with my literacy program part of my summer professional reading includes two books Talking, Drawing and Writing by Martha Horn & Mary Ellen Giacobbe and In Pictures and In Words by Katie Wood Ray. I believe that a strong, balanced literacy program includes -independent reading and writing (choice of topic/book) -shared reading and writing -guided reading and writing -modeled reading and writing -reading to someone, with someone and being read to -performance -oral language -support family literacy -student choice -word study - But as Katie Wood Ray says, it is not just what you teach but how you teach that is important. I love my literacy...

I’m joining Deb over at Fabulously First http://fabulouslyfirst.blogspot.ca/   to share some of my wisdom for new teachers. Deb's collecting advice for all new teachers. What a wonderful idea! I've been teaching for twelve years, most of them in Kindergarten and Grade One and continue to learn all the time!! To link up visit Deb's blog and add your site to the group. Here are my top three (to be honest I probably have a top 1000) but I'm limiting myself to three.  Be an observer . Use your prep times, release days and a district mentoring program to observe teachers. If you are part time or a teacher substitute use some of your off time to observe teachers even if just for a specific curriculum area. You will learn schedules, management techniques, teaching strategies and much more . This is the best way to grow your skills. Your colleagues will respect you for your professional attitude.  Find a partner. Hook up with another...